Fastening-inserting machine



Dec. 13, 1949 F. c EASTMAN EI'AL 2,490,901

mamas-Immune momma Original FiJLed llarch'6. 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invenfor-s Fred C Eastman Philip Barby 1949 F. c. EASTMAN ETAL 2,490,901

FASTENING IHSER'I'ING MACHINE Original Filed March e, 1946 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors Fr'ed CFaszman Philip E Barby K y F. C. EASTMANEI'AL FASTENING-INSERTING MACHINE O-giginal Filed Ila-N116. 1946 Dec.13, 1949" Ihven tors Red CEaszman Philip E. Bur-by 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 irAH ngy Dec; 13, 1949 F. c. EASTMAN ETAL 1 FASTENING INSERTING MACHINEOriginal Filed March s, 1946 s Sheet-Sheet 4 In ven fans Fred C. EasimanPhilip E Bu r55 By i/ziAi'i nay 13, 1949 F. c. EASTMAN EI'AL 2,490,901FASTENING-INSERTING MACHINE Original Filed March 6, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet5 [nvenfors Fred C Easzman Patented Dec. 13, 1949 2,490,901 FASTENING-INSERTIN G MACHINE Fred C. Eastman,

Marblehead, and Philip, E.

Burby, Beverly, Mass., assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,

Flemington, N. J a

corporation of New Jersey Original application March 6,

652,472. Divided an 24, 1947, Serial No. 7

1946, Serial N0.

(1 this applicationJaniiai-y 23,912

18 Claims. (Cl. 118.1)

This invention relates to fastening-inserting machines, the presentapplication being a division of a copending appliation for LettersPatent for improvements in Shoe machines, Serial No. 652,472, filed onMarch 6, 1946. The invention is shown as applied to a toe-lastingmachine having means for driving a plurality of fastenings around thetoe endofthe shoe bottom to fasten the upper in lasted position, but itwill be understood that it is not limited to machines of that kind or,in some aspects, to machines for operating on shoes.

The machine herein shown includes in its organization a plurality offastening-inserting devices having fiuid-operated drivers movableindependently of one another to drive 9. corresponding number offastenings. As applied to such an organization, the invention providesnovel means to cause different drivers to operate respectively atdifferent times. In the construction shown the drivers are operated bypistons all of which are subjected at one time to the pressure of theoperating fluid, and associated with the pistons are devices which holdthem initially against movement by the fluid but are operated to releasethem in a variably predetermined order, the order of their release beingpreferably such that, for the most part, different pairs of fasteningsare driven in succession. In this manner the application of excessivepressure to the work in the driving of the fastenings is avoided andinsurance also is afforded against any undesirable drop in the presenceof the operating fluid such as might result if all the drivers wereoperated simultaneously. Provision is further afforded, as herein shownby control of the above-mentioned releasing devices, for varying thenumber and arrangement of the fastenings driven by preventingselectively the operations of diiierent drivers.

The above and other features of the invention, including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts, will now be moreparticularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings andthereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in right-hand side elevation oi the greater portion ofthe machine in which the invention is herein shown as embodied, withparts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the upper front portion ofthe machine, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line IIIIII 'ofFig. 2; Fig. 4 is a viewmainly in rear elevation of the portion of the structure toward whichthe arrow A points in Fig. 3 i

Fig. 5 is a sectionon the line V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 isa sectionhn" theline VIVI of Fig. 5; Fig. '7 is a viewin right-hand side elevation of aportion of the means'for controlling the driving of the fastenings'; v

Fig. 8 is a sectionjon the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 9 is a verticalsectional view on an enlarged scale showing one of thefastening-inserting devices with the driver at the end of its operativemovement; and Fig. 10 is mainly aplan view, with parts in section,showing the fastening-inserting devices in positions for driving thefastenings around the toe end of the bottom of a shoe.

As more fully disclosed in the above-mentioned copending application,the toe-lasting machine to which the present invention is shown asapplied is provided with a plate 2 for positioning a shoe heightwise inthe machineby engagement with the bottom face of the toe end of theinsole, the position of the shoe lengthwise being determined by an endgage 4 arranged to serve as an abutment in contact with the toe-end faceof the last and so formed thatit also centralizes the toe end of thelast 'and sh'oe laterally. Early in a cycle of automatic operations ofthe machine, corresponding to one'revolution of a cam shaft 6 driventhrough a clutch 8, the end gage 4 is swung upwardly away from the shoeafter the shoe has been clamped against the plate 2 by upward movementof a toe rest Ii) shown in Fig. 1. A

heel rest I 2 also is moved rearwardly into engage ment with theheel-end face of the shoe to assist in holding it against lengthwisedisplacement.

Shortly after the beginning of the cycle the mar- "gin of the upperabout the toe end of the last is gripped by a pluralityof grippers,three of which are identified generally'by'the reference characters l4,l6 and 18in Fig. 3, and these grippers are operated to pull the upper indirections height- "wise of the last. In p'roper timerelation to themovements of the grippers a pair of toe-embracing wipers 20 (Figs, 3;9and 10) are advanced and closed to engage the upper about the end andalong the sides of the toe and are moved upwardly to wipe the upperheightwise of the last. Thereafter the wipersarefurther advanced andclosed to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over an insoleon thelast, the grippers being opened-"(to release the upper and beingmoved to positions such as not to interfere with means for thereafterfastening the margin of the upper to the insole.

For fastening the upper the machine is provided with a plurality offastening-inserting devices each identified generally by the referencecharacter 22, thesedevices being hereinafter frequently referred to astackers sincethey are constructed to drive tacks. As shown in Fig. 10,these tackers are seventeen in number for driving a maximum of seventeentacks about the end portion of the shoe bottom. Each tacker (Fig-9)includes a tack holder 24 and atack driver 26 movable in a driverpassage 28 in the tack holder to drive the tack, the driver beingdetachably secured to a driver bar 30 which, as shown in Fig. 3, isguided by an upwardlyextending portion of the tack holder and may beconsidered a part of the tacker. Near its lower end each tack holder 24is provided with a pair of tack fingers 32 arranged to extend inwardlythrough openings in its opposite si gles to support the tack in thedriver passage prior-to the tack-driving.

operation. The tack fingers have vintegral therewith upwardly extendingleaf springs .34 the upper ends of which are; secured tp the tackholder. When the driver 26, therefore, is operated to drive the tack itforces the tack fingers apart to permit it to pass between them, asshown in Fig. 9. Tacks are fed at the proper time in the cycle throughflexible tubes 35 (Fig.1) into tack-receiving passages36 in the severaltack holders by means fully described in the previously mentionedcopending application, and when the drivers are retracted above the.lower. ends ,of these passages the tacks are admitted into the driverpassages 28 where-theyare supported by the tack fingers in positions tobe driven. a

One of the tackers, which may end tacker, drivesitstack in theV-shapedre cess between the wipers 20 when the latter are at the limitsof their inward wiping movements:

over the shoe bottom, as will be evident from r Fig. 10. The othertackers drive their tacks through holes 38 in the wipers, one of whichholes is shown in Fig. 9, the tapering lower ends of the tack holders 24being seated in. recesses 40 in the upper faces of the wipers when thetacks.

are driven. In order, however, to provide room for the operation of theseveral gripper-son the upper, the tack holders occupy initiallypositions in which they are both upwardly andoutwardly retractedsubstantial distances from; their tack.- ing positions, as shown in Fig.3. Tolpermit such outward retractive movements of the tack holders andto provide furtherfor adjustments of the tackers relatively to oneanother, each driver bar. its is pivotally mounted at its upper endonapin 42 (Fig. supported in a block 44 which is pivotally mounted on apin 45 at-right angles .to the pin 42 and supported in a block 43 faston the lower end of a piston rod 5i] through which the driverbar isoperated. This piston rod extends upwardly into a cylindrical bore nor.cylinder- -52 formed in a casting 54 onthe irameof the machine and hasfast on itsupperaend av piston 55 operated preferably by compressed airas hereinafter described,.the several cylinders and pistons beingarranged in a semi-circular series (Fig. 2 By means also hereinafterdescribed each piston 56 is held initially at the upper end of thecylinder in which it is mounted. It will be evident that theabove-described connection between each driver bar 39 and block 48provides a universal joint permitting the tacker to be swung laterallyin any direction. By mechanism fully disclosed be. termed the in theabove-mentioned copending application, which need not be hereindescribed in detail, the several tackers are swung automatically at theproper time in the cycle of operations to positions over the recesses 40in the wipers and the tack holders 24 are moved downward relatively tothe driver bars 30 to position their lower ends in the recesses 40 withthe tack drivers in alinement with the holes 38 in the wipers.

Compressed air is conducted to the upper ends of the. several cylinders52 to operate the tack drivers through a passageway 58 (Figs. 2 and 3)formed in the casting 54 and closed above by a cover plate 50 on thecasting, this passageway leading directly to the middle cylinder andcommunicating also with the upper ends of the other v cylinders througha semi-circular passage 62 in the casting, The passageway 58communicates at its rear end'with a vertical passageway 64 arranged tocommunicate at times through a port 56 with a valve chamber 68 formed ina casing secured to the casting 54 and receiving compressed air througha pipe 12 leading from'any chamber 68 is a slide valve 14 mounted on arod 16 and confined between flanges l8 and 88 on the rod. When the rodis moved downwardly,

as hereinafter described, to a position determined by engagement of theflange 80 with the casing NJ it opens the port 66 to the chamber 68 toadmit compressed air to the upper ends of the several cylinders 52, andwhen it is moved upwardly from that position it closes communicationbetween the chamber 68 andthe port 66 and opens communication betweenthis port and an exhaust passage 82 in the casting 54 to permit exhaustof the air from the upper ends of the cylinders. For returning thepistons 56 and thereby retracting the tack drivers air is admitted tothe lower ends of the cylinders through passageways 84 in the castingfrom-a semi-circular passageway tl'i which is closed underneath by aplate 88 on-which the casting 54 rests. Air is conducted to thissemi-circular passageway through a horizontal passageway 99 and avertical passageway 82, the latter being arranged to communicate withthe valve chamber 68 through a small port 94 when the valve 14 is movedupwardly beyond the position in which his shown in Fig. 3. The valvealsocontrols an exhaust port 96 through which air is conducted from thelower ends of the cylinders to the exhaust passage 82. The port- 94 issmaller than the port 66 leading to the upper ends of the cylinders toprevent the tack drivers from being retracted so rapidly as to involvedanger of breakage of parts.

The valve 14 is operated by downward and upward movements of asubstantially semi-circular horizontal plate 98 (Figs. 3, 7 and -8)through which-an-enlarged lower section Hill of the rod '15 extends, thevalve being moved downwardly I ends to forwardly extending arms of apair of '75 bell-crank levers H2 mounted-to swing on studs rods "18 arepivotally connected at their lower IIIkonthe-frameand therods Harepivotally connected' at their lower ends to forwardly extending armsof another pair of bell-crank levers: II6;fast on a'rockshaft H8;Upwardly extending arm of a bell-crank lever 1-124 mounted to turn ona'shaft I26 on the frame, and-the other armof the-bell-crank lever I24carries'a roll I 28 in engagement with'the periphery of a cam I 30 onthe-cam shaft 6. A'spring I32 connected to the bell-crank lever I24holds the roll against the cam and,iwhen"permitted by a-drop I34 on thecam, moves the plate 98 downwardly to movethe valve 14 into position toadmit compressed air through the port 66 to the upper ends of thecylinders" 52 for operating the tack drivers. The spring I02 (Fig. 3)permits the plate $i8t0ib6mOVd farther downwardly, for a purposehereinafter'explained, after the valve has been stopped in the properposition by engagement of the flange 86 on the rod'16 with the. casingI0. After the driving of the tacks a rise I36 on' the cam I36 moves theplate 98 an'd'the valve upwardly to open the upper ends of the cylinders52 to the exhaust passage 82 and to admit air to the lower ends of thecylinders through the port 94 to retract the drivers, the valve closingthe exhaust port'96. Thereafter a short drop I38 on the cam causes thevalve to return to the positionin which it is shown in Fig. 3. in whichthe port 94 is covered by the valve and both ends of the cylinders areopen to the exhaust passage 82.

The blocksdllon the lower ends of the piston rods 50 are guided in theirdownward and upward movements by a substantially semi-circular extensionI40v (Figs. 3, and 6) of the casting 5A3, portions of the blocks lyingin guideways I42 in the-extension. Pawls I 44 pivotally mounted onholders I46 which are secured to the extension I40 are normally held bysprings I 46 with their upper ends under the blocks 48 and against theextension Mll'adjacent to the uideways. Even though compressed air isadmitted, therefore, to the upper ends of the cylinders 52, operation ofthe tack drivers is prevented by the pawls until.

they are moved out from under the blocks For thus operating the pawls torelease the blocks the plate 98 carries a plurality of L-shaned membersI 50 arranged to engage tail portions I52 oi the pawls and thus to swingthe pawls out from under the blocks in response to continued downwardmovement of the plate 98 after the valve 14 has opened the port 66 tothe chamber 68. In order to avoid such increase of pressure of the toeend of the shoe on the toe rest III as would result from simultaneousoperation of all the tack drivers, and also to restrict the amount ofcompressed air needed at any one time to operate the pistons 56, theconstruction shown is such that some of the drivers are operatedrespectively at difierent times. Each of the L-shaped members I50 isprovided with a stem I54 extending downwardly through a hole in theplate 98, and threaded on the stem below the plate is a nut Asillustrated, the member I50 controlling the pawl associated with the endtacker, i. e., the one which drives the tack at the extreme end of thetoe, is held by its nut I56 in fixed relation to the plate 68'-.(Figs.'3and l), whilethe nuts associated with the other members 'I50are spacedmore or less below-the plate. Accordingly; the end tacker is the firstto-drive'its tack, the driving of -the othertacks being delayed untilsuch'times as the plate 68 engages thecorresponding nuts I56 andoperates the respective pawls. The springs I63 are of 'suflicientstrength to support the other members I50 whil'estill maintaining thepawls in their operative positions until the plate 98 has moveddownwardly along the stems I54 to engage the'nuts I56; It willbeevident-that these nuts may be so adjusted as to'cause the tacks tobe.

driven in'anydesired order. Preferably, as illustrated, the twotackers'located at opposite sides respectively of the end tacker drivetheir tacks simultaneously after the driving of the end tack, afterwhich the next two tackers operate'simultaneouslyandso on until'all thetacks are driven. Also threaded on all'the stems I54 except the middleone are locknuts I58 for holding the nuts I 56 fin adjusted positions.

All theL-shaped members I50 except the one associatedwith the end tackerare maintained in proper relationitoithe corresponding pawls I56 byforked members I60" (Figs. 4:and5) supported by the fixed p1ate'88 andextending downwardly at opposite "sides of the L-shapedmembers. All theforked membersexcept'the two members associated with the tackerswhich'are next adjacent to the end tacker are provided with stems I62extending upwardly through the plate Stand havingfastton their upperends handles I as (see Fig. 2). A spring I66 (Fig. 4) confined betweeneach of these forked members and a washer I68 engaging the lower faceofthe plate as provides rgear I16 (Fig.4) from which a stem :bearing inthe sufficient friction between the plate and the washer and alsobetween the plate and the hub of the-handle I64 to prevent the memberI66 from 'turningtoo freely. In-this manner the corresponding L"-shapedmembers IEII'are maintained in proper relation to the respective pawlsthe hub of eachhandle I6 l'having thereon a projection' I10 (Fig. 2)arranged to engage the side of the casting 54 to determine the properposition of the forked'memb'er I605 Each of the two forked. members I 60associated with the tackers which arenextadjacent to the end tacker hasan upwardly extending portion'mounte'd 'to turn in a plate 80," and inthis upwardly extending-portion is threaded a screw H2 (Fig. 5) the headof which'is mounted'in a recess in the plate 88 to support the memberrotatably. Formed on this member are gear teeth I'I I engaged by a II'aextends upwardly-through a bearing in the plate handle I being fast onthe upper end of this stem. A'spring I82 between each gear I76 andwasher I84 engaging the plate 33 provides fric- ISII in proper relationtothe pawl "It l which it controls, the'proper position of the forkedmember I66 be ing. determinedbya pin I86 (Fig. 2) in engagement with alug I88on the hub of the handle In addition to maintaining the membersI56 in operative relation to the pawls I5 3 which they controlgtheforked members I60 may be turned by thehandles I64, I80 associatedtherewith to move-any of the corresponding members I60 selectively intosuch operatethepawls to'release the correspondin tack drivers when theplate-6e is moved down wardly. The member: I 56 'associatedwith the endtacker-may, however, be turned and held in such a position that itwill-notoperate*thezcorrespond positions that'they will not ing pawl. Inthis manner the number and arrangement of the tacks which are driven maybe varied at will by rendering diiferent tack drivers selectivelyinoperative. It will be evident that when any such drivers are renderedinoperative delivery of tacks to the corresponding tack holders alsoshould beprevented. This may be done, for example, by disconnecting theflexible tack-delivery tubes 35 from those tack holders and providing asuitable receptacle to catch the tacks delivered from those tubes.

The manner of operation of the machine, in so far as it is of interestwith reference to the present invention, will now be briefly summarized,the operation of the machine as a whole being more fully described inthe previously mentioned copending application. The operator presentsthe shoe to the machine in the position determined by the plate 2 andthe end gage 4, positioning the margin of the toe end of the upper inthe several grippers, and then starts the machine by actuation of theclutch B through a treadle (not shown) Substantially at the beginning ofthe cycle of operations the toe rest H1 is moved upwardly to clamp theshoe against the plate 2, and near the beginning of the cycle also theheel rest I2 is moved rearwardly into engagement with the heelend faceof the shoe. Substantially as soon as the shoe is engaged by the toerest the grippers are closed on the margin of the upper and they arethen moved upwardly to pull the upper, the end gage 4 being withdrawnfrom operative position. In proper time relation to the movements of thegrippers the wipers 2!! are advanced and closed to engage the upperabout the toe end of the last and are moved upwardly to wipe the upperheightwise of the last. Thereafter the wipers are further advanced andclosed to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over theinsole, the grippers releasing the upper and being moved to positionswhere they will be out of the way of the tackers. Before the completionof the inward wiping movements of the wipers the mechanism hereinbeforereferred to for positioning the tackers begins to swing them inwardlytoward positions over the shoe bottom and to move the tack holders 24downwardly, these movements of the tackers being completed and the lowerends of the tack holders being seated in the recesses M! (Fig. 9) in thewipers after the completion of the movements of the wipers. At thispoint the machine preferably comes to a stop for reasons ex lained inthe previously mentioned application. If the operations thus far havebeen satisfactorily performed, the operator again starts the machine tocause it to complete its cycle and drive the tacks. Immediately aftersuch starting of the machine the tacker-controlling plate 98 begins tomove downwardly, first operating the valve 14 to admit compressed airthrough the port 65 above all the driver-operating pistons 56, the lowerends of the cylinders 52 being open to the exhaust passage 82, and thenby its engagement with the nuts I56 causing the L-shaped members I59 tooperate the pawls M4 and thereby to release the driver-operating pistonsin the order predetermined by the adjustments of the nuts I56. If any ofthe members l5 l have been turned to such positions as to prevent themfrom acting on the pawls, the corresponding drivers remain idle. Asherein illustrated, the end tacker is first operated and thereafterdifferent pairs of tackers in succession in the manner previouslyexplained. It will be understood that each piston, upon its release bythe corresponding pawl, is

immediately forced downward by the compressed 1 air above it to drivethe corresponding tack and to clinch it on the usual metal plate on thebottom of the last (Fig. 9). After the driving of the tacks 5 the partsof the machine are returned in the proper order to starting positions.In this portion of the cycle the valve 14 is movedupwardly by the plate98 far enough to admit compressed air through the restricted port 94 tocause the return of the pistons 56 into positions where they are againheld by the pawls M4, the upper ends of the cylinders 52 beingsimultaneously put into communication with the exhaust passage 82. Thevalve M then receives a short downward movement to cover the port 94 andto leave both ends of the cylinders in communication with the exhaustpassage. It will be understood that in the return of the tackers tostarting positions the several tack holders 24 are lifted clear of thewipers before the latter receive their retractive movements.

Having described the invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of fluid-operateddrivers movable independently of one another to drive fastenings, meansfor holding said drivers initially against movement by the fluid, andadditionalmeans for releasing the drivers in such order as to drivedifferent fastenings respectively at diiferent times.

2. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of fluid-operateddrivers movable independently of one another to drive fastenings,devices associated respectively with said different drivers for holdingthem initially against movement by the fluid, and means for operatingsaid devices to release the drivers in such order as to drive difierentfastenings respectively at different times.

3. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of fluid-operateddrivers movable independently of one another to drive fastenings, meansfor holding said drivers initially against movement by the fluid, andadditional means for releasing the 45 drivers in such order as to drivediiferent pairs of fastenings in succession.

4.. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of drivers for drivingfastenings, fluid-operated members associated respectively withdiiferent 50 drivers for operating them, means for subjecting all saidmembers to the pressure of operating fluid at one time, means forholding the members initially against movement by the fluid, andadditional means for releasing the members in such 55 order as to causedifferent fastenings to be driven respectively at difierent times.

5. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of drivers for drivingfastenings, fluid-operated members associated respectively withdifferent 60 drivers for operating them, means for subjecting all saidmembers to the pressure of operating fluid at one time, devicesassociated respectively with.

said different members for holding them initially against movement bythe fluid, and means for operating said devices to release the membersin such order as to cause different fastenings to be driven respectivelyat diflerent times. 6. In a fastening-inserting machine, a pluralit ofdrivers for driving fastenings,. fluid-operated members associatedrespectively with different drivers for operating them, means forsubjecting all said members to the pressure of operating fluid at onetime, means for holding the members ini- 75 tially against movement bythe fluid, and additional means for releasing the members in a variablypredetermined order.

'7. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of drivers for drivingfastenings, fluid-operated pistons associated respectively withdifferent drivers for operating them, cylinders in which said pistonsare movable, means providing a passage in open communication with allsaid cylinders, a valve for admitting operating fluid to said passage,means for holding the pistons initially against movement by the fluidthus admitted, and additional means for releasing the pistons in apredetermined order.

8. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of drivers for drivingfastenings, fluid-operated pistons associated respectively withdifferent drivers for operating them, cylinders in which said pistonsare movable, means providing a passage in open communication with allsaid cylinders, a valve for admitting operating fluid to said passage,devices arranged to hold said pistons initially against movement by thefluid thus admitted, and means for operating said devices to release thepistons in such order as to cause different iastenings to be drivenrespectively at different times.

9. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of drivers for drivingfastenings, fluid-operated pistons associated respectively withdiflerent drivers for operating them, cylinders in which said pistonsare movable, means providing a passage in open communication with allsaid cylinders, a valve for admitting operating fluid to said passage,devices arranged to hold said pistons initially against movement by thefluid thus admitted, and a member movable to operate said valve to admitthe fluid and further movable thereafter to operate said devices torelease the pistons in a predetermined order.

10. In a fastening inserting machine, a plurality of drivers for drivingfastenings, fluidoperated pistons connected respectively to thedifferent drivers, cylinders in which said pistons are movable, meansfor admitting operating fluid to opposite ends of said cylinders tooperate and to return the drivers respectively, devices for holding thepistons against operative movements after the drivers have been thusreturned, and means for operating said devices to release the pistons ina predetermined order for the driving of the next fastenings.

11. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of fluid-operateddrivers movable independently of one another to drive fastenings, andmeans for preventing the fluid from operating one or more of saiddrivers selectively to vary thereby the number of the fastenings driven.

12. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of drivers for drivingfastenings, fluid-operated members associated respectively withdifferent drivers for operating them independently of one another, andmeans for holding one or more of said fluid-operated members selectivelyagainst movement by the fluid to vary thereby the number of thefastenings driven.

13. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of fluid-operateddrivers movable independently of one another to drive fastenings,controlling means for holding said drivers initially against movement bythe fluid, and additional means for thereafter releasing the drivers torender the fluid efiective to operate them, said additional means beingadjustable to prevent such release of one or more of the drivers andthus to vary the number of the fastenings driven.

14. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of fluid-operateddrivers movable independently of one another to drive fastenings,devices associated respectively with said drivers for holding theminitially against movement by the fluid, and members movable to operatesaid devices in a predetermined order to release the correspondingdrivers, said members being mounted for movements selectively intopositions to prevent them from thus operating said devices.

15. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of drivers for drivingfastenings, fluid-operated members associated respectively withdifferent drivers for operating them, means for subjecting all saidmembers to the pressure of operating fluid at one time, controllingmeans for holding the members initially against movement by the fluid,and additional means for releasing the members in a predetermined order,said additional means being adjustable to prevent such release ofdifierent members selectively.

16. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of drivers for drivingfastenings, fluid-operated members associated respectively withdifferent drivers for operating them, means for subjecting all saidmembers to the pressure of operating fluid at one time, devices arrangedto hold said members initially against movement by the fluid, andcontrolling members for operating said devices in a predetermined orderto release the corresponding fluid-operated members, said controllingmembers being mounted for movements selectively into positions toprevent them from acting on the corresponding devices.

17. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of drivers movableindependently of one another to drive a corresponding number offastenings into the bottom of a shoe in a group extending around an endportion of the shoe bottom, and means for selectively preventingoperative movements of any of said drivers to vary thereby the numberand arrangement of the fastenings driven.

18. In a fastening-inserting machine, a plurality of drivers arranged todrive a corresponding number of fastenings into the bottom of a shoe ina group extending around an end portion of the shoe bottom,fluid-operated members associated respectively with said difierentdrivers for operating them independently of one another, and means forholding any of said members selectively against movement by the fluid tovary thereby the number and arrangement of the fastenings driven.

FRED C. EASTMAN. PHILIP E. BURBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,546,819 Bagshaw July 21, 19251,821,966 Goddu Sept. 8, 1931 1,967,282 Boynton July 24, 1934 2,273,268Hunter Feb. 17, 1942 2,420,290 Willhavck May 13, 1947 Certificate ofCorrection Patent No. 2,490,901 December 13, 1949 FRED O. EASTMAN ET AL.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 33, for the word presence read pressure; column 5, line42, after semi-circular insert downward; column 6, line 74, for howeverread moreover;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these correctionstherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of May, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oomjz'saicner of Patents.

